Animal Free Research UK Pioneer Awards
Established animal-free researchers are already leading the way. They are true pioneers and deserve to be recognised.
For the second year running, The Pioneer Award recognises and celebrates the achievements of trailblazing scientists who conduct medical research without using animals.
The specially commissioned Pioneer Medal will be awarded to the winner for their outstanding contribution in helping to make animal-free the gold standard in UK laboratories. In 2022 this was awarded to Dr Donald E Ingber – the founding director of Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering.
This year, nominations also open for the inaugural Early Career Scientist Award, which will shine a light on the next generation of inspiring animal-free researchers.
The winners will be invited to speak at our Science Conference in Cambridge on 4-5 October, and they will be entitled to call themselves ‘Animal Free Research Pioneer 2023’ and ‘Animal Free Research Early Career Scientist 2023’ and will be supported by the charity to promote and showcase their work through a series of talks and other dynamic events to engage and inspire their peers and the public.
Read the details below about the awards and how to nominate.
The Pioneer Award 2023
For the second year running, nominations are now open for our Pioneer Award 2023, which celebrates the outstanding contribution of trailblazing scientists who conduct research without using animals.
The specially commissioned Pioneer Medal will be awarded to the winner for their contribution in helping to make animal free the gold standard in UK laboratories. They will also receive free attendance and be invited to deliver a keynote speech at our Science Conference, which this year is taking place over 4-5 October 2023 in Cambridge.
The winner will be entitled to call themselves ‘Animal Free Research Pioneer 2023’, and will be supported by the charity to promote and showcase their work through a series of talks and other dynamic events to engage and inspire their peers and the public.
Dr Don Ingber
Our 2022 Pioneer Award Winner
What are the criteria for entry?
- The Animal Free Research UK Pioneer Award is for scientists who have made an outstanding contribution to medical research without the use of animals
- Scientists undertaking animal free research within academia, government, industry or private research institution are eligible for nomination
- Nominations from last year are welcome to reapply and will be considered
- Self-nominations will not be considered
Judging criteria for the Pioneer Award
- Quality: The extent to which the nominee’s work is reliable, valid, credible, and scientifically rigorous
- Impact: The extent to which the nominee’s work represents a significant contribution in basic or translational research that has impacted, or has strong potential to impact, human health through the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease
- Novelty: The extent to which the work challenges existing paradigms, employs innovative and human relevant new methodologies or concepts, and/or pursues an original question
- Promise: The extent to which the nominee has made impactful research contributions and future prospects for further significant contributions in the field
- Legacy: The extent to which the nominee has committed to championing the next generation of animal free researchers through education, teaching and mentoring
- Values: The extent to which the nominee has demonstrated a set of ethical values consistent with those that guide Animal Free Research UK
- EDI: The extent to which this nomination contributes to the advancement of equality of opportunity
How to nominate someone:
- Download and fill out a Pioneer Award nomination form. Include with this a supporting letter (max. 1000 words) which details how they align with the judging criteria, their history, publications and CV.
- Download a consent form and ask the nominee to fill this out, which gives us consent to evaluate their work.
- Submit all three documents to science@animalfreeresearchuk.org by 5pm 16th June 2023, with the award title in the subject line.
- Please note, self-nominations will not be considered.
The Early Career Scientist Award
Nominations are now open for our brand-new Early Career Scientist Award 2023, which celebrates and promotes the next generation of inspiring scientists who conduct research without the use of animals and have shown proof of a strong commitment to building their career around animal free research.
Alongside a certificate and a £500 bursary to further progress their animal free career, the winner will receive free attendance and an invitation to speak at our conference, which this year is taking place over 4-5 October 2023 in Cambridge.
They will also be entitled to call themselves ‘Animal Free Research Early Career Scientist 2023’ and will be supported by the charity to promote and showcase their work through a series of talks and other dynamic events to engage and inspire their peers and the public.
What are the criteria for entry?
- The Animal Free Research UK Early Career Scientist Award is for researchers at the early stage of their career (up to Postdoctoral Researcher/early PI) who are creating significant impact and show strong commitment to pursuing an animal free career
- Scientists undertaking animal free research within academia, government, industry or private research institution are eligible for nomination
- Self-nominations will not be considered
Judging criteria for the Pioneer Award
- Quality: The extent to which the nominee’s work is reliable, valid, credible, and scientifically rigorous
- Impact: The extent to which the nominee’s work represents a significant contribution in basic or translational research that has impacted, or has strong potential to impact, human health through the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease
- Novelty: The extent to which the work challenges existing paradigms, employs innovative and human-relevant new methodologies or concepts, and/or pursues an original question
- Promise: The extent to which the nominee has made an impactful research contribution and future prospects for further significant contributions in the field
- Legacy: The extent to which the nominee has committed to continuing practising and focusing on animal-free science during their early career, and inspiring the next generation of animal-free researchers through teaching and or mentoring
- Values: The extent to which the nominee has demonstrated a set of ethical values consistent with those that guide Animal Free Research UK
- EDI: The extent to which this nomination contributes to the advancement of equality of opportunity
How to nominate someone:
- Download and fill out a Early Career Scientist Award nomination form. Include with this a supporting letter (max. 1000 words) which details how they align with the judging criteria, their history, publications and CV.
- Download a consent form and ask the nominee to fill this out, which gives us consent to evaluate their work.
- Submit all three documents to science@animalfreeresearchuk.org by 5pm 16th June 2023, with the award title in the subject line.
- Please note, self-nominations will not be considered.
